Life-preserver.



F. A. 000KB.

LI'FE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED D3012, 1s).v

Patented Dec. 8,1908.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES r aTAT FRED A. GOOKE, OF SEATTLE,- WASHINGTON.

LIFE-PRE SERVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed December 12 1907. Serial N0. 206,128.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

it known that I, FRED A. COOKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers, of

,which the following is a specification, ref crcnce being had therein to the accompanyingdrawlngs.

This invention relates to life preservers; and its object is the provision of an appliance of this character of relatively large buoyancy capable of sustaining a swimmer in the water; which will adapt itself to his movements, andnot encumber his efforts in reaching safety.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a life preserver which can be constructed of materials which are not subject to the effects of deterioration, and which can be stored for an unlimited period of time without detracting from it flotative etficiency, or'serviceable condition.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of' of assembling the buoyant elements. Fig. 2, IS a vertical cross sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section of a flotative element shown detached and in its preferred form; and Fig. 4: is a similar View of a modified form of constructing such elements.

According to this invention I employ a lurality of cellular members A which are formed with cylindrical central portions and with closed ends which are desirably formed semi-globular, as indicated by a and a in Figs. 2 and 3. These members may be constructed of paper composition, or an equivalent metallic material, such as aluminum, which is capable of being drawn or otherwise formed into a thin shell. In the preferred form said members are severally constructed with one of the respective ends, a, removable, to serve as a cap, see Fig. 3, and which are connected with the main portions by interfitting sleeve joints a", and may be secured thereat asby soldering.

instead of the aforedescribed constructi on, tubular sections A, see Fig. 4e, may be utilized and their ends closed by. insertible plug stoppers, such as B, which after being introduced may be reliably held against displacement through pressing ridges a into the peripheries of the stoppers. The aforedescribed members are made-impervious to air and while they are very efficient when filled with air, their-buoyant properties are enhanced by exhausting the air therefrom prior to their being sealed. Protection against the corrosive effects of sea-water and deterioration in general of the said members may be afforded by a coat- .ing of insoluble varnish. These members are disposed in a life preserver in vertically alined rows, preferably of two or more in each row, and a suilicient number of such rows are used to furnish a girdle to almost encompass the trunk of a human body. More particularly, and with reference to Fig. 1, at the back C and at the ends Cv which are to be worn at the front are shown with three members in each vertical row while the intermediate portions C are comprised ofbut two members so as to afford arm-holes D thereabove. The various members thus assembled are retained in place and protected by a covering E of a flexible material, such as light canvas, which is sec urely sewed about the edges by stitches F.

and by various lines of stitches F passing from the inner and outer folds of the covering to prevent the dislocation of the members.

G represents looped supporting straps which extend upwardly from the preserver for use over a wearers shoulders, and are provided with adjustment buckles G.

H and H are strap ends, or cords, extending outwardly from the lateral'cdges of the preserver and adapted to be respectively tied for securing the device in place.

The invention is capable of being made of less bulk than other devices of this char- .acter which have come to my notice and that, too, with a greater degree of buoyancy. The buoyant elements, owing to their number and their self-sufliciency, safeguard theeffectiveness of the device even should one or more of them become inoperative by being punctured.

The mode of assemblage, or articulation of the component receptacles allows cons1dera'ble flexibility and accommodation to the wearers movements. And the cells being made imperviousto air and of a non-absorbent character with respect to water, insures the efficiency of the apparatus as a means of saving life, and its durability in withstanding the effects of time.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is-

In a life preserver, a series of tubular receptacleshaving closed ends and arranged in rows, the receptacles of each row being disposed in spaced side by side relation and being disposed so that the individual receptacles of each row are in clinement with those of the adjacent rows, and a covering of the rows, said sections havin marginal extensions which project beyoni the rows and are stitched to one another, and lines of stitching connecting said sections and ar- FRED A. COOKE.

Witnesses:

Henson BARNES, -ROBERT B. GILLms. 

